Reading can be cool... especially if the books are AMAZING

Following on from the theme of things being a touch quiet for me here, I have decided to continue to furnish your eye with my words about the creative influences that help me sail along in my life. Strangely enough, recently I have not been reading all that much. I have found that I glean much more pleasure from writing and researching bits and pieces instead. I would NEVER have guessed that that would be the case.

THIS part is going to be a little bit out of left field. Hold on to your hats... BOOKS. Along the way, I have read some books but there are three that stand out as direct influences for the current path my life has taken. Ready? Steady... GO! Papillion – Henri Charriere, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thompson Seaton and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

 Papillon – a book about escape, adventure, desperation, emotional and physical strength all under the umbrella of injustice. Oh and it’s based on a true story. Don’t get me wrong, I know I am not the first person to have ever read this book but it is an inspiration to me so if you read it you MIGHT understand a little bit more ABOUT me. When life hits you round the face with a 10 pound trout, don’t get upset that you have trout juice on your face, escape from prison in French Guyana, build a raft and sail to freedom. That is the basic theme of Charriere’s story with fewer mentions of trout though. He tells his story in a brutally frank and pragmatic tone of voice which, considering the story’s content is an achievement in itself. He is a hero. One of MY heroes. Bravo Henri, you are a great man.

Old Man and the Sea is a slightly different bag of words. It is still set in the tropics but this time, despite the tale of bravery on the seas, there is a far more introspective tinge to the story and its protagonist – The Old Man. Plus, Hemingway loved rum, I love rum... we’re basically the same person! We will all face tests along our journey of life, some we will surpass and others might get the better of us but it is not the outcome that is always important. More often than not it is how we deal with these occurrences as they arise and what we learn from them and most importantly whether we make the same mistake again. This (short) story takes the reader on a trip through adversity, anger, despair, desperation through to pride and humility. If there was a little of The Old Man’s moral fibre in all of us, the world would be better place.

Seton was a pioneer naturalist, a founder of the Boys Scouts and an influence on Sir David Attenborough. As if that isn’t enough, he was an excellent illustrative writer. Wild Animals I Have Known is a series of short stories about the animals he had known and the nuances he observed. Firstly, I love (almost all) animals unconditionally and unequivocally so it is with shear and superficial delight that I love reading and re-reading this book. His ability to depict the uniquely individual characters of each animal that he has known not only makes you wish you had known the man himself but the animals he talks of. He would definitely be one of my ultimate dinner party guests.

The last book is slightly out of left field so bear with me. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a tremendous short story which shows the social development of Charlie – a slightly awkward, introspective teen - in his first years at High School in Pittsburgh. Chbosky use various references to the media of the time to help build his characters and give a rich backdrop to the overall story most notably the music listed. There are many moments in life where you doubt yourself so it can be a relief to learn that you are not the only one. I have never read a book that is so heart-wrenchingly honest in describing the confusions, frustrations and glorious triumphs that come from trying to understand people. This book is not for everyone but I would recommend you give it a go and you will be pleasantly surprised. It is a insta-recommendation from me whenever someone asks.

Here lies some of the inspiration for my desires to see, live in and experience lands far away. I have minimal desires to embellish further.

For now good people, happy reading.

In a bit,

BeardFace esq.